SICILIAN PROVERBS

translated into English by Arthur V. Dieli

pintimentu n.m. Regret, repentance.: Lu pintimentu lava lu piccatu.; Eng. Repentance washes away sin.

pira n.f. Pear.: Annata di pira, annata di suspira.; Eng. A bountiful pear harvest means shortages of everything else.

pirciati v.t. past p. Perforated, pierced.: Li fimmini hannu li vudedda pirciati.; Eng. Women can't keep secrets. (lit. Women have perforated bowels.)

pirdizioni n.f. Danger, ruin, damnation, perdition.: Cui pirduna a sò figghiu l'erruri, lu metti a la pirdizioni. Source: Pitrè, II, 145.; Eng. Who excuses the errors of his son, puts him at risk of damnation.

piriculari v.t. Jeopardize, imperil.: Donna, focu e mari fannu l'omu piriculari.; Eng. Woman, fire, and the sea are perilous for man.

Pirinnellu name Pirandello.: Sunnu cosi di Pirinnellu. Or, Mi parinu cosi di Pirinnellu.; Eng. Things of a Pirandelian sort. (Applied to complicated or confused situations.)

pirirà v.i. fut. 3rd p.sing. Disappear, discourage, die, perish.: Pri la suverchia cummudità la riligioni pirirà.; Eng. Religion will perish because of excessive comforts.

pirsivirari v.t. Persevere.: Lu piccari è di l'omu, lu pirsivirari è di lu diavulu. Source: Pitrè, III, 185.; Eng. To sin is human, to persevere is devilish.

piru n.m. Pear.: Quannu lu piru è maturu, cadi sulu.; Eng. When the pear is ripe it falls by itself.

pisci n.m. Fish.: Quannu nun trovi pisci pigghji vopi.; Eng. When you can't do as you want, do as you can. (Lit. When you can't find fish go for perch.)

pista v.t. 3rd p.sing. Batters, pounds.: Cui dintra lu murtaru l'acqua pista, cu li stizzi si vagna e stancu resta.; Eng. Who pounds the water in the mortar, will get wet from the splashing and will end up tired.

pistilenzia n.f. Pestilence, plague.: Medicu nuveddu, pistilenzia di patria!; Eng. A new doctor is a plague on the country.

pisu n.m. Weight, load, burden.: Lu pisu di l'anni è lu pisu cchiù granni.; Eng. The weight of years is the heaviest burden.; Pisu è misura, nun ti levi nè ti duna.; Eng. A burden is a measure, it makes you neither lighter nor heavier.

pitanza n.f. Portion, course, dish, share.: Si vuliti l'osservanza, dàtinni la pitanza.; Eng. If you want a celebration provide the means.

pititti n.m. Appetite, desire, need.: Si diventi riccu di dinari, diventi poviru di pititti.; Eng. The rich man has little need.

pitittu n.m. Appetite, desire, need.: Privazioni fa pitittu e fa duci pani schittu.; Eng. Hunger never saw bad bread. (lit. Privation whets the appetite and makes plain bread pleasing.)

pitrusinu n.m. Parsley.: A san Franciscu si simìna lu pitrusinu.; Eng. On St. Francis Day, October 4, you sow parsley.

pitturina n.f. The bodice of an apron.: Pira, jinchitinni la pitturina; prunu, màncianni unu.; Eng. Pears, fill the bodice; prunes, eat one.

pizziddu n.m. Chicken's beak.: Dici la gaddinedda: dammi di lu pizziddu, ca ti dugnu di lu pirtusiddu.; Eng. The laying hen says: give me feed to fill my beak and I'll give you eggs.

pizzu n.m. Beak.: Palumma, palummedda, di lu pizzu pari bedda!; Eng. Pigeon and chick, you're pretty from the tip of your beak.

poco adj. Little.: Vôi sapiri qual'è lu megghiu jocu? Fa' beni i parra poco.; Eng. Do you want to know the best ploy? Do good and speak little.

ponnu v.i. Able to, can.: Li ricchi comu vonnu e li poviri comu ponnu.; Eng. The rich do as they want, the poor do as they can.

porcu n.m. Pig.: Megghiu porcu magru ca gaddina grassa.; Eng. A skinny pig is better than a fat chicken.

porta n.f. Door.: Aperta è la porta pri chiddu chi porta.; Eng. The door is always open to the bearer of gifts.

porta v.t. 3rd p.sing. Brings, bears.: L'omu è comu lu mari: s'un porta oi, porta dumani.; Eng. Man is like the sea: if he doesn't produce today, he'll produce tomorrow.

portu n.m. Harbor, port.: Cui voli manciari pisci di portu, nun voli aviri lu vurzuni strittu.; Eng. If you want to eat freshly caught fish, you don't want to have a tight purse.; Si Catania avissi portu, Palermu saria mortu.; Eng. If Catania had a port, Palermo would be dead.

potenti adj. Potent, Mighty, strong.: Lu dèbbuli chi fa càusa cu lu potenti, è comu la quartara chi truzza cu lu muru.; Eng. The weak who opposes the strong, is like the jug that collides with the wall.

poviru adj. Poor.: Nun è poviru cu' havi quantu cci basta.; Eng. You're not poor if you have as much as you need.; Lu poviru 'un avìa e limosina facia.; Eng. The poor didn't have but gave to charity.; Lu poviru 'un è crittu. Variante: Nè crittu nè 'ntisu lu poviru offisu.; Eng. The poor is not believed. Varient: The poor offended man is neither believed nor understood.; Figghi assai, patri poviri. Source: Pitrè, II, 147.; Eng. Very many children, father impoverished.

prèdica n.f. Sermon.: Nun c'è tavula senza vinu, nè predica senza Agustinu.; Eng. There is no table without wine nor a sermon without Augustine.

premiri v.t.i. To be concerned with.: Diu mi vogghia beni, ca di santi nun mi premi.; Eng. With saints I'm not concerned, but with the love of God.

prestu adv. Quickly, hastily, promptly, at once.: Cu' duna prestu, duna du' voti.; Eng. Giving promptly is like giving twice.; La cosa prestu fatta, prestu è disfatta.; Eng. Haste makes waste. (lit. The thing don hastily is quickly undone.); Prestu, prestu cà la cira squagghia!; Eng. Quickly, quickly because the wax is melting.

presumiri v.i. To assume, presume, conjecture, suppose.: L'omu sapienti tantu cchiù sa, tantu mancu presumi.; Eng. The more you know, the less you assume. Lit. The more the savant knows, that much less he assumes.

pridicaturi n.m. Preacher.: Lu bon pridicaturi divi prima pridicari a sè stissu.; Eng. The good preacher practices what he preaches. lit. The good preacher must first preach to himself.

prigari v.t. To pray, implore.: Ogni asinu si prega di lu so ragghiu.; Eng. Each is pleased with what is their own.; Cui si preja di capiddi e denti, Si preja di nenti. Source: Pitrè, I, 165.; Eng. Who is pleased with teeth and hair, is pleased with nothing.

prima adj. First.: Di lu poviru pigghianni la prima e di lu riccu l'urtima.; Eng. To get the best dowry, marry the poor man's first daughter but the rich man's last daughter.

primintìu adj. Premature.: Matrimoniu tardu, orfani primintìu. Source: Pitrè, II, 148.; Eng. Late marriages, premature orphans.; Figghi tardii, orfani primintìi. Source: Pitrè, II, 148.; Eng. Having children in middle age, premature orfans.

principiu n.m. Beginning, origin, starting.: Ogni principiu è forti, ogni disideriu veni a fini.; Eng. Starting is always difficult, but every desire is attainable.

prisa n.f. Acquisition, purchase, gain.: Èssiri cchiù la spisa chi la prisa.; Eng. The expense is more than the gain.

prisenza n.f. Presence, appearance.: Cu' in prisenza ti timi, in assenza t' offenni. Source: Traina, 762.; Eng. Who is afraid in your presence, hurts you in your absence.

privileggiu n.m. Privilege, perquisite.: Bannu di Palermu e privileggiu di Missina.; Eng. The proclamations of Palermo and the perquisites of Messina.

prova n.f. Test, trial, experiment, proof.: A la prova si vidi lu valenti. Source: Traina, 770.; Eng. The valiant pass the test.; A li provi si vidi la prisenza Source: Pitrè, II, 16.; Eng. Those present passed the test.; Cosi chi pàrinu, chi cci vonnu provi?. Source: Pitrè, III, 187.; Eng. What need is there for tests when things are apparent?; Cui nun provi li cosi, nun li cridi. Source: Pitrè, II, 127.; Eng. Who doesn't test things, doesn't believe them.

prumèttiri v.t. To promise.: A riccu nun prumèttiri e a poviru nun mancari.; Eng. Don't make promises to the rich nor withhold from the poor.

prumissi n.f.pl. Promises.: Di prumissi nun gudiri, d'amminazzi nun timíri.; Eng. Don't celebrate promises, and don't fear threats.

prunu n.m. Prune.: Pira, jinchitinni la pitturina; prunu, màncianni unu.; Eng. Pears, fill the bodice; prunes, eat one.

pruspiritati n.f. Prosperity.: Quannu si 'n tempu di pruspiritati, timi l'avvirsitati.; Eng. When you're enjoying prosperity, be wary of adversity.

pruvatu adj. Demonstrated, experienced, tested.: Lu pruvatu cchiù nun lu pruvari cà cchiù lu provi, cchiù tintu ti pari.; Eng. Don't retest the tested because the more you test it, the worse it will appear.

pruvulazzu n.m. Dust, threshing dust.: Cui veni appressu, si cogghi lu pruvulazzu.; Eng. When you follow behind, you eat dust.; Pruvulazzu di jinnaru, carrica lu sularu.; Eng. Threshing dust of January means a filled loft.

pruvuli n.f. Gunpowder.: Lu pruvuli ristritta fa un fracassu. Source: Pitrè, II, 12.; Eng. Restricted gunpowder makes a boom.

prùvvuli n.f. Dust.: Cui offenni, scrivi 'n prùvvuli, cu' è offisu, scrivi 'n marmuru.; Eng. The offender writes in dust, the offended cares it in stone. (lit. ...writes in marble.)

pudagra n.f. Gout.: La pudagra è mali di li ricchi.; Eng. Gout is the sickness of the rich.

puddaru n.m. Hen house.: Lu misi di jinnaru nun lassa gaddina 'ntra lu puddaru.; Eng. Don't leave the chicken in the hen house in January.

puddastra n.f. Pullet.: Vrodu di gaddina e carni di puddastra.; Eng. Use the chicken for broth and the pullet for its meat.

puddicina n.f. Chick.: Cu' havi figghi, havi puddicini. Source: Pitrè, II, 142.; Eng. Who has infants, has chicks. Tr. note: Because they can die in an instant.; Cui cunta puddicini, cunta pìrita (Palermo). Source: Pitrè, I, 127.; Eng. Who counts chicks, counts farts. Tr. note: In Palermo they didn't used to count their chicks even after they hatched because many never matured into chickens.

pugna n.m. Fist, fistful, punch.: Nun si pò pigghiari lu celu a pugna.; Eng. You can't punch your way into heaven.

pulizìa v.t. 3rd p.sing. Cleans.: La malatia, si nun guasta, pulizìa.; Eng. If the sickness doesn't kill, it cleanses.

Pulizzi place name Polizzi.: Acqua, negghi e nigghi, e parrini cu li figghi, cummissari e diligati, a Pulizzi li truvati.; Eng. In Polizzi you'll find water, fog, kites, priests with children, commissions and delegates.

pùnciri v.t. To urge, to spur, to prod, to puncture.: Nun pùnciri lu sceccu nni la muntata.; Eng. Don't prod the donkey while you're getting on.

purcedda n.f. Sow, piglet.: Quannu ti dùnanu la purcedda, curri prestu cu la curdicedda.; Eng. Make the most of every opportunity. (lit. When they give you a piglet, run there quickly with a little cord.)

purciara n.f. Insect ridden.: Annata purciara, annata furmintara.; Eng. When there are lots of insects, look for a good grain year.

purificari v.t. To purify, cleanse, purge.: Lu focu purifica. Source: Pitrè, II, 13.; Eng. Fire purefies.

purrazzi place name Purrazzi.: Lauda lu mari, ma tiniti forti a la terra (o a li purrazzi).; Eng. Praise the sea but hang on to the land (or to Purrazzi).; Ci vonnu purrazzi a fari sfrazzi!; Eng. You need land to seed, to live in luxury!

puta n.f. Prune, trim, shape.: Cui puta 'ntra marzu, o è asinu o è pazzu.; Eng. If you prune in March you're either a jackass or crazy.; La puta di jinnaru arricchisci lu vuttaru.; Eng. Pruning in January enriches the vinyard.

putari v.t. To prune.: S'a putari vai in aprili, non di vinu, ma d'acquata jinchirai li tò varrili.; Eng. If you prune in April you'll fill your barrels not with wine, but with water.

putenti adj. Powerful, influential, rich.: Dui sunnu li putenti: cu' havi assai e cu' 'un havi nenti.; Eng. There are two powers to contend with, those with a lot and those with nothing.

putìa n.f. Shop, store, business.: Cui havi putìa, havi a fari facci a tutti.; Eng. If you have a business you have to smile at everyone.; Putìa vecchia nun ha bisognu di frasca.; Eng. An old business doesn't need advertising.

putruni n.m/f. Loafer.: L'armi di lu putruni, Nun tagghiannu nè firiscinu pirsuni. Source: Pitrè, III, 202.; Eng. The weapons of the loafer don't cut nor do they injure anyone.

puvireddu n.m. A poor person.: Cu'è picciutteddu, nun è puvireddu.; Eng. A youngster is never poor.; Figghi assai, mamma puviredda. Source: Pitrè, II, 147.; Eng. Very many children, poor mother.

puvirtà n.f. Poverty.: Ahi, ahi, ahi! tri voti dicu, cui cadi 'n puvirtà perdi l'amicu.; Eng. Oh, oh, oh! three times I say it, who falls into poverty loses his friends.; La puvirtà di lu galantomu è megghiu di la ricchìzza di lu poviru.; Eng. The poverty of the gentleman is better than the enriching of the poor man.

puzzu n.m. Well.: Quannu pri tanta scarsizza di lazzu, quannu pri tanta funnizza di puzzu.; Eng. Sometimes the rope is too short, sometimes the well is too deep.

quadara n.m. A big vase or pot used for boiling, made of copper or other.: La quadara vecchia è china di vozzi, pirtusa, e taccuna.; Eng. The old always have ailments. (Lit. The old pot is full of nicks, holes, and dents.); Chi fa 'na stizza d'acqua 'ntra 'na quadara vughienti? Source: Pitrè, II, 12.; Eng. What will one drop do in a pot of boiling water?

quagghiata n.f. Curd cheese.: Fa sirvizza a mandra ca mancirai quagghiata.; Eng. Mind your work and derive the benefit. Lit. Serve the flock and you'll eat curd cheese.

quannu adv. When, sometimes.: Cui nun voli quannu pò, nun purrà quannu voli.; Eng. Who doesn't want to when he can, can't when he wants to.

quantu adj., adv. As much as, how, how much.: Casa pi quantu stai, vigna pi quantu vivi, terra pi quantu vidi, e rènnita pi quantu pòi; Eng. A house for as long as you're here, a vineyard for as long as you live, land for as far as you can see, and income for as much as you can.; Quantu su' l'acchianati su' li scinnuti. Source: Pitrè, III, 97.; Eng. There will be as many steps going down as there were climbing up.

quaresima n.f. Lent.: Non ni parramu cchiù ca è quaresima.; Eng. Let's stop the discussion since it's lent. (a strategem used to avoid an argument.)

quartucciu n.m. Three fourths of a liter.: Lu quartucciu campa la vigna.; Eng. The Quartucciu gives life to the vineyard. (It revives the worker.)

quattru adj. Four.: Quattr'omini ci vonnu pre fari 'na bona 'nzalata: un pazzu, un saviu, un avaru, e un sfragaru.; Eng. You need four men to make a good salad: a crazy man to mix it, a scholar for the salt, a miser for a touch of vinegar, and a squanderer for the oil.

racina n.f. Grapes.: Cogghi appena matura la racina cu bonu tempu e asciutta d'acquazzina.; Eng. Harvest the grapes as soon as they mature while there is still good dry weather.

raffiguratu v.t. past p. Recognized, appeared.: A locu unni 'un si' conusciutu, comu si' vistu si' raffiguratu.; Eng. Where you're not known, you're judged by your appearance.

ragghiu n.m. Bray, braying.: 'U parrari di lu sceccu è lu ragghiu.; Eng. The bray is the talk of the jackass.; Ragghiu d' asinu nun arriva 'n celu.; Eng. The braying of the donkey doesn't reach heaven.

raggiuni n.f. Reason.: Cui nun senti raggiuni, nun pò fari cosi cu raggiuni.; Eng. Who doesn't listen to reason, can't do things with reason.; Cui si 'ncagna senza raggiuni, fa paci senza sudisfazioni.; Eng. Who gets angry without reason, makes peace without satisfaction.; La raggiuni va cu lu so pedi.; Eng. Reason prevails. (lit. Reason goes with its own feet.); A la fini si vidi cu' havi raggiuni. Source: Pitrè, II, 16.; Eng. At the end you see who's right.

Ragusa place name Ragusa.: Cavaddi rausani, muli spaccafurnari e scecchi muricani.; Eng. Horses from Ragusa, mules from Spaccaforno, and jackasses from Modica .

rallintari v.t. Ease, slacken, relax.: Erva di ventu ogni mali allentu.; Eng. Wild herbs ease every ailment.

rapi v.t. 2nd p.sing. Rob, steal.: Nuddu ti rapi si nun ti sapi.; Eng. No one will steal from you if they don't know you.

razza n.f. Race, descent, breed.: Megghiu lu tintu di bona razza, ca lu megghiu di tinta razza.; Eng. Better the bad one from a good breed than the better one from a bad breed.

regnari v.i. To rule, reign, prevail.: È naturali all' omu lu sapiri e lu regnari.; Eng. It is the nature of man to know and to prevail.

règula n.m. Rule.: Un casu nun fa règula. Oppure: Una bedda jurnata nun fa stati.; Eng. One occasion doesn't make the rule. Or: One beautiful day doesn't make a summer.

renni v.i. Return, yield.: Comu paga la zappa, acussì l'oliva la spisa renni di la puta, lu grassu e di la zappa.; Eng. As you pay the price with the hoe, to that extent the olive grove will profit from the pruning and the fertilizing.; Ortu e mulinu, 'un diri quantu renni a tò vicinu.; Eng. Vegetable garden and mill, don't tell your neighbor how much they yield.; Dicembri pigghia e giugnu ti lu renni.; Eng. December takes but June repays you.

resca n.f. Fish bone.: Cu' si mancia 'u pisci sputa li reschi.; Eng. When you eat fish you'll spit fish bones.

rètina n.f. Bridle, reins.: Quannu tu vidi ca lu passu è malu, piglialo pri la rètina lu mulo.; Eng. When you see that the going is tough, take the mule by the reins.

ricadìa n.f. Relapse.: È tinta la malatia, ma è cchiù tinta la ricadìa. o La ricadìa è pèiu di la malatia.; Eng. Sickness is awful, but a relapse is worse. or The relapse is worse than the sickness.

ricchizzi n.f. Riches.: Accumincia ad arricchiri cu' accumincia a disprizzari li ricchizzi.; Eng. You'll begin to be rich when you begin to scorn riches.

riccu adj. Rich.: Si riccu a poviru ossequi fa, poi stari certu ca bisogna 'nni ha.; Eng. If the rich man is fawning over the poor man, you can be certain that he needs something.; Tri cosi fannu l'omu riccu: Guadagnari e nun spènniri, prumèttiri e 'n'attènniri, accattari e nun vìnniri.; Eng. Three things make a man rich: Earning and not spending, promising and not doing, buying and not selling.; Nasci riccu, campa poviru, mori riccu.; Eng. Be born rich, live parsimoniously and die rich.; Cu'è riccu d'api e di jumenti, è riccu e 'un havi nenti.; Eng. To be rich with bees and mares, is to be rich and have nothing.; Giuvini è cu'è sanu, e riccu cui nun havi a dari.; Eng. You're young if you're healthy, and rich if you have no debts.; Làssitu, truvatura e santu croccu, di poviru fannu l'omu riccu.; Eng. A bequest, a found treasure, and parsimony make a man wealthy.; Quannu lu riccu accarizza lu poviru, signu ca l'havi a 'ngannari.; Eng. When a rich man caresses a poor man, he's going to take advantage of him.; Quannu lu riccu veni a mali, nun sapi zò chi si fari.; Eng. When a rich man comes to bad times, he doesn't know what to do.

ricogghi v.t. 3rd p.sing. Pick up, gather, collect.: Cui nun ricogghi li pecuri daùra, nun arricogghi nè pecuri nè lana.; Eng. If you don't collect the sheep promptly, you'll collect neither the sheep nor the wool.

ricotta n.f. Sicilian cottage cheese, ricotta.: Latti di crapa, ricotta di pecura e tumazzu di vacca.; Eng. Milk from the goat, ricotta from the sheep and cheese from the cow.; Ricotta e meli, vivici beni.; Eng. Drink (wine) with your meal.

ridi v.i. 3rd p.sing. Laughs.: A fimmina ca ridi, 'un ci aviri fidi.; Eng. Don't trust a woman who laughs.; Cu rid'ò sabbutu chianci 'a duminica.; Eng. Saturday's revelry leads to Sunday's doldrums.; Fimmina ca ti ridi, t'ha dittu sì.; Eng. A woman who laughs at you has said yes.

rifriddatura n.f. A cold.: Pri la rifriddatura cci voli nidu di picciuna.; Eng. To cure a cold you need the warmth of a pigeon's nest.

rimarra n.f. Mud, mire, slime.: A la rimarra nun ci po tacca. Source: Pitrè, II, 11.; Eng. You can't shame the wicked. (lit. You can't tie onto mud.)

rina n.f. Sand.: Cui frabbica supra la rina, la caduta è vicina.; Eng. Who builds on sand, the fall is near.

rincrisci v.i. 3rd p.sing. Regrets.: A cui lu campari ci rincrisci, a maju babbaluci e ad agustu pisci.; Eng. To ward off the boredom of life, eat snails in May and fish in August.

ringrazziari v.t. 3rd p.sing. To give thanks, to show gratitude.: Ringraziamu a Diu pi chiddu chi nni duna, e a lu re pi chiddu chi nni lassa.; Eng. We thank God for what he gives us, and the king for what he leaves.

rispettu n.m. Respect, reverance, manners.: A tavula e a lettu non c'è rispettu.; Eng. The table and the bed have their own manners.; U rispettu è misuratu, cu' ni porta n'avi purtatu.; Eng. Respect is reciprocal, who gives it receives it.

rispittari v.t. To honor, to respect.: Li vecchi s'hannu a rispittari.; Eng. The old must be respected.

risposta n.f Answer.: Nè ad ogni vucca ci voli risposta, Nè ogni facci voli cera.; Eng. Not everything need be answered, nor every look returned.; Cui voli dari risposta a tutti, cci perdi la virtù, lu sennu e l'arti.; Eng. If you try to reply to everything you'll forsake uprightness, good judgement, and skill.

rispuniri v.t. To answer.: Pri 'ngnuranti è tinutu cu' rispuni senza essiri dumanatu.; Eng. Ignorant is the one who answers without being asked.

risu n.m. Rice, laughter.: Risu, mi calu e non mi jisu.; Eng. Rice, it goes down but does nothing for me.; Risu senza raggiuni, o di pazzu o di minchiuni.; Eng. Laughter without reason, is either crazy or stupid.

robba n.f. Things, property, goods.: Robba mal'acquistata nun godi lu terzo eredi.; Eng. Corruptly acquired goods don't delight the third generation.; Si duni la to robba senza pignu, mostri aviri pocu 'ncegnu.; Eng. If you give your goods without a pledge, you show little inventiveness.; La robba bona nun è mai cara.; Eng. Quality goods are never expensive.

rosa n.f. Rose.: La rosa chi nun è guardata, o è ciarata o cugghiuta o spampinata.; Eng. The rose that's disregarded, has been smelled or picked or defoliated.

rosi n.f.pl. Roses.: Si su' rosi, ciurirannu, si su' spini, puncirannu.; Eng. If they are roses they will blossom, if they are thorns, they will prick.

ròsuli n.pl. Chilblain, mild frostbite.: Li ròsuli pàssanu cu lu ciuri di maju.; Eng. Chilblain passes with the flowers of May.; Annu di ròsuli annu d'abbunnanza.; Eng. A year of chilblain will be a year of abundance.

rua n.f. Street, alley, wrinkle.: Spassu di rua e trìvulu di casa.; Eng. Entertaining with friends but surly at home.; Ogni rua un'unza di giudiziu.; Eng. Each wrinkle is an ounce of wisdom.

rùggia n.f. Residue, crust of dirt, patina, dregs.: Un canùsciri mancu la rùggia. Source: Piccitto, IV, 265.; Eng. Not knowing anything about anything.; Sta buttigghja è cchjina di rùggia! Source: Piccitto, IV, 265.; Eng. This bottle is full of dregs!

rumpi v.t. 3rd p.sing. Breaks, interrupts, destroys.: Cu' rumpi paga.; Eng. The one who breaks, pays.; Picculu sdegnu rumpi granni amuri.; Eng. A small indignity destroys a great love.

rùmpinu v.t. 3rd p.pl. (They) break.: Bonu studiu e bona cura càccianu e rùmpinu mala vintura.; Eng. Good study and good care banish and break bad luck.

rusignolu n.m. Nightingale.: Lu rusignolu vecchiu canta megghiu.; Eng. The old nightingale sings better.

russu adj. Red.: Siddu a la casa armali ha' a tiniri, di pilu russu nè cani nè gatti.; Eng. If you have to have animals in your house, don't have either a dog or a cat with a red coat.; Ariu russu: o acqua o ventu; si nun chiovi, fa bon tempu.; Eng. A red sky means either water or wind; if it doesn't rain, it will be fair weather.

ruvetti n.m. Bushes.: Crìscinu li ruvetti pri cummigghiari li difetti.; Eng. The bushes grow in order to cover defects.

saccu n.m. Sack, bag.: Saccu vacanti 'un pó stari a l'addritta.; Eng. An empty bag cannot stand upright.; Nun diri quattru si nun è 'ntra lu saccu.; Eng. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. (lit. Don't say four if it's not in the bag.)

salariu n.m. An agreed wage, a salary.: Salariu crisciutu, sirvizzu guadagnatu.; Eng. A raised salary gained service.

Return to... Top of Page

or to... the Table Of Contents page

This page is maintained by Art Dieli.
Last updated 5/11/10